Time Lapse Interval Calculator

Time lapse photography captures a series of still images at regular intervals to create a video-like effect. The interval between shots is crucial for achieving smooth motion and proper exposure. This calculator helps you determine the optimal interval based on your specific project requirements.

What is Time Lapse Photography?

Time lapse photography is a technique that creates the illusion of time passing more quickly than it actually does. It's commonly used in nature photography, architecture, and scientific documentation. The key to successful time lapse photography is selecting the right interval between shots.

There are two main types of time lapse photography:

Real-time time lapse: Captures events as they happen in real time (e.g., a flower opening in the morning)
Accelerated time lapse: Captures events much faster than real time (e.g., a construction project over several months)

The interval between shots determines how smooth the final video will appear and how much detail you'll capture.

How to Calculate Time Lapse Interval

Determining the optimal time lapse interval requires considering several factors:

The total duration of your project
The number of frames you want in your final video
The desired playback speed of your final video
The available storage space for your images

The basic calculation involves dividing the total duration by the number of frames you want, then adjusting for the playback speed.

For example, if you're photographing a flower opening over 4 hours and want a 30-second video, you'll need to capture 30 frames in that 4-hour period.

The Formula

The fundamental formula for calculating time lapse interval is:

Interval (seconds) = (Total Duration × Playback Speed) / Number of Frames

Where:

Total Duration is the length of your project in seconds
Playback Speed is how fast you want the final video to play (1.0 = real time, 2.0 = twice as fast)
Number of Frames is how many images you want in your final video

For example, if you're photographing a 24-hour project and want a 1-minute video playing at normal speed:

Interval = (24 hours × 60 minutes × 60 seconds × 1.0) / 60 frames = 24 hours / 60 = 24 minutes between shots

Worked Example

Let's calculate the interval for a time lapse of a construction project:

Total duration: 3 months (7,776,000 seconds)
Desired video length: 1 minute (60 seconds)
Playback speed: 30x (30 times faster than real time)

Using the formula:

Interval = (7,776,000 × 30) / 60 = 233,280,000 / 60 = 3,888,000 seconds

Convert seconds to hours: 3,888,000 / 3,600 = 1,080 hours

Convert hours to days: 1,080 / 24 = 45 days

So you would need to take a photo every 45 days to create a 1-minute video at 30x speed.

FAQ

What is the best interval for time lapse photography?

The best interval depends on your specific project. For smooth motion, intervals should be short (seconds to minutes). For long-term projects, intervals can be longer (hours to days).

How many photos do I need for a time lapse?

The number of photos depends on your desired video length and playback speed. For a 1-minute video at 30x speed, you would need 1,800 photos.

What equipment do I need for time lapse photography?

You'll need a camera with manual settings, a tripod, and a remote shutter release. For long-term projects, consider a weatherproof camera and intervalometer.